scholarly journals Using Population Dynamics to Model Harvest Regulation Impacts to Channel Catfish in the Monongahela River, West Virginia

Author(s):  
Kristen L. Chestnut‐Faull ◽  
Quinton E. Phelps ◽  
Dustin M. Smith ◽  
David I. Wellman

<em>Abstract</em>.—Using Long Term Resource Monitoring Program data collected from impounded (Pool 26) and unimpounded (Open River) reaches of the upper Mississippi River, we investigated population dynamics of flathead catfish <em>Pylodictis olivaris</em>, channel catfish <em>Ictalurus punctatus</em>, and blue catfish <em>I. furcatus</em> from random sites located in side channel border (SCB) and main channel border (MCB) habitats. Objectives were to (1) compare trends (1993–2007) of three catfishes collected in Pool 26 and Open River reaches of the upper Mississippi River, and (2) provide needed information to managers on population dynamics through time using a binary gear approach of active (i.e., daytime electrofishing) and passive gears (hoopnetting). Active gears resulted in a higher catch per unit effort (CPUE) of all catfishes in each habitat–reach combination as compared to passive gears. Passive gears resulted in negligible catches of blue catfish and flathead catfishes (e.g., mean of <1 fish/net night). Catch per unit effort using active gear resulted in a greater number of channel catfish captured in Pool 26 compared to the Open River, with Open River SCB habitat having the lowest CPUE in most years. Blue catfish in the Open River had a higher CPUE using active gear as compared to Pool 26, with the Open River MCB having the greatest CPUE. Flathead catfish had a higher CPUE in MCB habitat compared to SCB habitat, with the Open River MCB having the highest CPUE in most years. However, declining trends in flathead catfish appears to be occurring in Open River habitats while trends in flathead catfish appear to be slightly increasing in Pool 26. The most common length-classes captured were substock and stock-sized fish regardless of habitat, species, or reach. Trends for channel catfish were easily determined due to high catch rates; however, more monitoring and enhanced sampling is needed to accurately assess flathead catfish and blue catfish trends and to accurately determine demographics for all three species.


Circular ◽  
2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Anderson ◽  
Kevin M. Beer ◽  
Theodore F. Buckwalter ◽  
Mary E. Clark ◽  
Steven D. McAuley ◽  
...  

1988 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B. Jacobson ◽  
Donald P. Elston ◽  
John W. Heaton

A synthesis of previous work and new data on the stratigraphy of high terraces of the Ohio and Monongahela Rivers upstream from Parkersburg, West Virginia, indicates a correspondence between terrace histories in the ancient Teays and Pittsburgh drainage basins. Four terraces are identified in each. Sediments of the lower three alluvial and slackwater terraces, correlated with Illinoian, early Wisconsin, and late Wisconsin glacial deposits, have been traced along the modern Ohio River through the former divide between the Teays and Pittsburgh basins. Sediments in the fourth terrace, the highest well-defined terrace in each basin, were deposited in two ice-dammed lakes, separated by a divide near New Martinsville, West Virginia. Some deposits of the highest slackwater terrace in both the Teays and Pittsburgh basins have reversed remanent magnetic polarity. This, and the stratigraphic succession in the two basins, suggests that both were ponded during the same glaciation. Reversed polarity in these terrace sediments restricts the age of the first ice-damming event for which stratigraphic evidence is well-preserved to a pre-Illinoian, early Pleistocene glaciation prior to 788,000 yr ago. In contrast, slackwater sediments in the Monongahela River valley, upstream from an outwash gravel dam at the Allegheny-Monongahela confluence, have normal remanent magnetic polarity, corroborating correlation with an Illinoian ponding event.


Author(s):  
Benjamin J Schall ◽  
Casey W. Schoenebeck ◽  
Keith D. Koupal

Fish samples collected during different times of the year can be subject to various biases, but the influence of sampling during different seasons on population dynamics and yield metrics in large reservoirs is not well reported. This study compared the age structure, growth, mortality, and yield estimates of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and Walleye Sander vitreus collected during spring and fall with standardized gill netting in a large Nebraska reservoir. Fish were sampled using the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission standardized gill net survey methodology. Ages were estimated from pectoral spines of Channel Catfish and sagittal otoliths of Walleye, age-length keys were derived, and mean spring and fall ages were compared with t -tests. Spring and fall von Bertalanffy growth curves were compared with likelihood-ratio tests, and mortality estimates from weighted catch curves were compared with an analysis of variance. Spring and fall yield estimates derived from yield-per-recruit models were visually compared to assess the impact of variable population dynamics estimates. Estimates of mean age, growth coefficient ( K ), mean asymptotic length ( L ∞ ), total annual mortality ( A ), and yield of Channel Catfish did not differ between spring and fall. Conversely, older age structure of Walleye in spring resulted in lower estimates of A and higher yield than in fall. Estimates of L ∞ and K differed between spring and fall for female Walleye, and L ∞ , K , and t 0 estimates varied between spring and fall for male Walleye. Fall yield estimates were substantially lower than spring estimates for both male and female Walleye. These results demonstrate that the season when samples are collected can impact population dynamics estimates for certain species while others remain relatively unaffected.


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